Working Holiday Maker Tips for Australia

Your bags are packed and the day of your epic flight to Sydney is fast approaching. But before you set foot in Oz, read through these handy tips that every working holiday maker should note.

Book a Room in Advance

Save both time and stress by booking a room in a hostel before you arrive. Sydney is packed with some excellent choices both in the CBD and suburbs so it won’t be hard to find the perfect place to crash and get over that pesky jet lag. Check out hostelworld.com and Tripadvisor for listings and book a bed in a small dorm – it’s one of the best way to meet new mates.

Staying a While?

Then you might want to move into an apartment. Depending on your budget, check out Ultimo (central and convenient), North Sydney (if you want to really feel like a local) and if you came to Sydney for the beaches, Coogee and legendary Bondi are the way to go. Flatmates.com.au and Gumtree are both a great place to start.

Find Out What You Can See and Do, and How to Get There

With so much going on in and around Sydney you’ll need to do your research. There are some excellent websites out there with listings for live music, films, restaurants and bars. Not to mention the weirder side of things (bingo rave anyone?). Browse sites such as concreteplayground.com and xploresydney.com to see what’s going down, and transportnsw.info or citymapper.comfor the fastest routes around town.

You’ve landed your working holiday visa and looking forward to starting your travels in sunny Sydney. But how do you get started in a new country? Follow these simple, practical tips and you’ll be living like a true Sydney-sider in no time.

Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)

You will need your TFN before you start working to ensure you get paid correctly. Once you have a mailing address in Sydney (a hostel address is fine), go online and order a paper form. You’ll need to send a certified copy of a document proving your identity, and the process normally takes around 10 days.

Get a Job

And get some cash. Check out Seek, Gumtree and Indeed for job listings and join as many recruitment agencies as possible. Note that if you are prepared to work at weekends, your wages are likely to be much higher.

Open a Bank Account

Yes it’s a bit dull, but you want to get paid, right? The four main banks in Australia are Westpac, Commonwealth, ANZ and NAB and all offer the usual selection of accounts (although some charge for ATM cash withdrawals so choose wisely).

Get Your Phone Sorted

Opus, Telstra and Vodafone are all great options and offer a multitude of options to suit everyone. It’s a good idea to get a plan that includes international calls, and a lot of data –although the occasional actual phone call to your mum is always nice.